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Help researchers find out how human activities affect marine mammals and help develop strategies to reduce the risks.

If you’re walking along one of Southern California’s broad beaches, you’ve got a good chance of seeing a whale spouting or a pod of dolphins riding the ocean waves. This coastline supports a rich community of marine mammals, including the blue whale, the largest animal to have ever lived on Earth.

But it is also home to Los Angeles Harbor, the busiest port in the United States. The whales and dolphins that migrate through or live in these waters face constant threats from human activities: heavy shipping traffic, commercial and recreational whale-watching boats, oil rigs, and pollution. Help researchers find out how these activities affect marine mammals and help develop strategies to reduce these risks.

From both the shore and the deck of a boat, observe marine mammals—how they behave on their own, and how they behave when boats or other disturbances are around. You’ll learn how to estimate their distance from you and how to use photos to identify individual whales and dolphins. You’ll take in the beauty of the California coast and of Santa Catalina, one of the picturesque Channel Islands just across the water. And as you do, you’ll be working to protect some of its most majestic inhabitants.

Lead scientists

Accommodation and food

Why the research is important

Why the research is important

This research tracks when and where marine mammals are in the area, which can help keep conflicts with boat traffic down.

There’s evidence that whales expend extra energy trying to avoid boat traffic and forage less when boats are nearby, which could push these animals past their limits.

It can be hard to fathom that a creature as massive as a whale could be at the mercy of us puny humans. But, of course, we all share the coastal regions like Southern California, and conflicts are bound to occur.

Collisions between whales and boats have risen steadily since the 1950s as ships have gotten larger and faster and whale populations have recovered from the whaling industry. Marine mammals are injured or even killed after becoming entangled in fishing gear. And there are less lethal, but very troubling, threats that come when maritime traffic intersects whale and dolphin home ranges or migratory paths. This traffic may cause animals to move their paths further offshore, or to forage less when in the presence of boats. Such impacts could increase the animals’ energetic costs while decreasing their gains from foraging, and could push an animal past its limits, especially in years when prey is limited.

Observe dolphins off the coast.

By helping these researchers make observations of how whales and dolphins behave around boats and helping to track where these mammals move and appear, you’ll contribute to an accurate picture of what exactly happens between whales and humans at this crucial place where our species intersect.

About the research area

Dana Point and Catalina Island, California, United States, North America & Arctic

Explore the coast of Southern California, from the striking cliffs of Palos Verdes to the picturesque and lively Dana Point. This populous area also has abundant natural beauty. In addition to the mammals you’ll be officially observing, you may spot seals, a variety of seabirds, and tide-pool creatures like sea stars and sea urchins.

Visitors often stop at Dana Point Harbor, where you’ll be based, to shop, fish, bicycle, and, of course, whale watch. The town is also well known for its surfing history—the film Endless Summer was produced here.

The team will spend some days about 35 miles (55 kilometers) offshore on Santa Catalina Island. This quiet (outside of the tourist town of Avalon, at least) spot is home to, among many other species, a herd of bison, descendants of 14 animals brought over for a movie shoot in 1924. Your time there will give you a glimpse into Southern California’s distant, wilder, past.

Daily life in the field

Itinerary

Day 3: Travel to Catalina for boat transect, recreation time in Avalon

Day 4: Shore observations of marine mammals, data analysis

Day 5: Boat transect and sea lion observations

Days 6: Observations from boat and shore, data analysis, dinner at local restaurant

Day 7: One-week team members leave; free day for two-weekers

Day 8: New one-weekers arrive; free day for two-weekers

* Days 2-7 will repeat for two-week team members.

Expect days full of variety and activity. After breakfast at the accommodations, the team will split into two groups, which will:

Look for whales and dolphins at sea. One group will take to the sea on a boat and follow transects—set paths along the shore—to photograph each animal they spot and record its location, behavior, and any human disturbances in the area.

Look for whales and dolphins from shore. The other group will be stationed at a lookout point on shore, where they’ll also scan the sea for marine mammals and record the same information.

Analyze data. The group that's on land may also spend morning working with data, creating GIS maps of sighting locations or matching photos of individual whales with those taken at different places along the North American coast.

The small groups will rotate tasks, so everyone will have a chance to try every task. After your days in the field, you’ll have leisurely evenings to cook, share meals, relax at the accommodations, or otherwise enjoy the mild Southern California nights.

Although we of course can’t guarantee whale sightings, your expedition coincides with peak numbers of foraging whales, such as blues and humpbacks, in the area, along with permanent resident populations of dolphin species. We look forward to welcoming you to the Pacific Ocean and introducing you to some of its most impressive, yet vulnerable, inhabitants.

Accommodations and Food

Accommodations and Food

Ocean views

Easy walk to beach and harbor

Wireless Internet

Stay in a homey condo in the small city of Dana Point, which has stunning vistas that overlook the Pacific Ocean and access to a number of beaches. You’ll share rooms with bunk beds with two to four other volunteers.

You, your teammates, and your team facilitator(s) will share recipes and cook together; you’ll pack a lunch to take into the field each day. Southern California also has a huge variety of restaurants where you might eat a meal or two. Vegetarian, vegan, and many other diets can be catered for (with advance notice to Earthwatch).

“Energized by EarthWatch”

What a great way to help the planet and have a vacation! Loved every minute of my EarthWatch adventure!

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Kathy Hornreich|7/27/2016

“Whales and Dolphins under the California Sun”

This expedition was a wonderful experience. Scientist, Lei Lani Steele, was an incredible teacher, leader and guide - so knowledgeable about these mammals. We took data while on the water noting location, time and species and upon returning to our home base, recorded the data into spreadsheets. The weather was perfect and the home base was very accommodating. Our team showed the best type of teamwork and everyone got along. Just a great experience learning about the different species, the dangers they face in the ocean from both ocean life and human life. Would recommend to everyone interested in saving sea life.

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Pam Curtis|Sunday, July 12, 2015

“Lei Lani is a rock star!”

Best travel experience hands down! The research team was so welcoming and I learned so much about marine mammals during the trip. The data entry was interesting and really helped me feel like I was helping in a significant way. I appreciated Lei Lani's patience and teaching style. She never made us feel like we weren't capable or worry that we would make a mistake. Her students were equally as patient and so intelligent and warm. Her organization kept everything running so smoothly.

I enjoyed the evenings just talking with the other members of the team who were all such interesting people. I never felt that I was bored or wanted to do something else because we were so busy during the day and saw and did so much that taking time in the evening after dinner to talk and read and enjoy the ocean breeze was a treat.

I took a chance on this trip having never heard of EarthWatch Institute and they exceeded my expectations. It was a perfect trip for me. I highly recommend to people of all ages and abilities. Thanks to Lei Lani and Shane for creating such a great experience and doing such meaningful work for our planet!

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Fatima Ali|Thursday, July 17, 2014

“The title of this expedition says it all - Whales, Dolphins & Californian Sun”

This was my very first Earthwatch expedition. For anyone wanting to take this trip, beware of having a great time!

The house is comfortable and charming. Professor Leilani and the whole team was wonderful! I had never been to Southern California and if you have not either, then this trip is very worthwhile. Not only is the place gorgeous but Professor Leilani's research is very intriguing as well. Professor Leilani and Shane were awesome to be around, very knowledgable and caring about their family and the research team. Really enjoyed being at home and on the boat. Their daughter, Zoey always lit up the room with energy and excitement!

Keep in mind you do spend a lot of time on the boat during the day so its best if you keep yourself covered and apply sunscreen religiously. We had to pack our lunches (sandwiches and snacks) everyday for the boat trips, remember to take a bottle of water and trust me, you do need snacks when you're out on the water. Tasks such as cooking dinner or washing the dishes were assigned at home. Bring a good lens if you have one for your camera! On my very first day we spotted a BLUE WHALE! Very exciting! The rest of the week however we did not have any more whale sightings but the team after me did! But I had the rest of the week just always surrounded by dolphins everyday so it really depends. Nonetheless, I am very grateful to have met the people I did on this trip. They really made this expedition amazing beyond belief.

Regardless of spotting marine mammals or not, this trip is highly recommended for those who want to be involved with marine research and who want to enjoy a week or two with Professor Leilani and her team!!

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Karen Rodriguez|Wednesday, June 04, 2014

“Blue Whale Adventure”

My 16-year old grandson and I were thrilled to spend a week helping Dr. Lei Lani Stella with marine mammal research. We were rewarded with numerous sightings of blue whales and dolphins, including a baby blue who "played" under and around our whale watching boat for a good half hour. My grandson got a taste of scientific research. I just had fun on all the boat trips where we sighted whales every time. Sharing household duties and fun evenings with Lei Lani and her family was relaxing and informative. Great trip. We'll do it again one day!

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Emily Close|Friday, May 09, 2014

“Whales Under the California Sun”

I participated in this expedition with Lei Lani two summers ago with my family and it was an amazing experience. Not only did we get to study the different ways in which dolphins and whales interact with each other but we were able to travel to different areas around Huntington Beach and see many different species of animals, not limited to whales and dolphins. I thought that the trip was organized very well and the activities that we participated in were fun and not overwhelming. I would encourage anyone to go on this trip, it was a great educational opportunity and Lei Lani was very knowledgeable about all aspects of studying these animals. It is also very fun and you get to meet a lot of new people that travel from all over the country to come on these trips. I met a woman from Wisconsin, and people from many other different states. I was 18 when I went on this trip, but she was much older. The activities are not overwhelming so I would encourage people of any age range to participate!

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Laura Istead|Friday, May 09, 2014

“Magical! ”

I was fortunate to be able to work with Dr. Lei Lani Stelle and her research team in the summer of 2012 as a part of Earthwatch. It was an incredible experience. Lei Lani and her team go out of their way to make sure you have the best experience, you feel like family from the moment you arrive. Having spent the majority of my life in landlocked parts of Canada, I knew very little about the ocean and its magnificent marine mammals. I learned so much from Lei Lani about marine mammal behaviour and had many opportunities during the trip to view blue whales, sea lions, dolphins and seals in their element. It was really valuable to see these animals up close and to be a part of a research team that is working to help protect them. I felt like my work was very valued by the team, which I think is an important part of the volunteer experience!

One magical memory that will always stay with me is when we were on a small boat, collecting data around Catalina Island and we found ourselves in the middle of a superpod of Common Dolphins. They were everywhere! It was pure magic to watch these beautiful creatures bow-ride on our small boat, almost close enough to touch. Everywhere you looked there were dolphins happily swimming and racing around us. It's something you definitely need to try and experience!

There are many Earthwatch Expeditions to choose from but I would highly recommend you spend some time with Dr. Stelle out on the California Coast. You won't regret it!